The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-06


imrort duties were levied tor the protec
lion of the industry. Bountles were grant.
ed upon manufacture for expectation Ex-
else duties were Mt times imposed, and the
works would then swarm with spies and
informers. Until the government with.
drew its care, is bounties and Its protec
tion, the industry did not thrive. Once
lett, however, to stand or fall upon its own
merit under absolute freedom Of trade
and Ia the abss nee of all bounties and pro-
lection, II at once arose and stood unaided
upon its feet. When, finally, In 1915, Great
Britain entered practically upon the ven
ture of free trade II so cheapened produc.
ton that TIE masses everywhere began to
purchase; consumers were multiplied, both
at home and abroad. This suddenly in-
creased demand expanded her manufac-
turing industries with bound. Its effect
upon the glass industry is told In the Amer.
lean CyclOpedia In few words, as follows
The bOunties md duties, with their an
+" moving restrictions, we're abolished In
|" 1915. wnen the suddenly increased de.
" mand for home consumption brought into
|" existence many more establishments.
+" Their capacity for production became
" immense &c. &c.
Why suddenly Increased demand for
consumption In 1882 Why in 1915 rather
than in 1910 or 1892 Here Is the eco,
nomic truth upon which the whole transac-
tlon hinges: 1t was the abolition of duties
and bounties that suddenly increased the
demand. That is, free trade In 1915 so
cheapened glass that, for the first time, II
WAS brought within the reach of everybody,
.h. # Il. nt hr.. hf
il into universal use; this created a sud
den and universal demand: brought into
existence many more establishments" and
thus multiplied capacity for production
And right here Is the kernel-the very
magic of industrial energy: The eXpan.
sion of industry by the chaapenlng OF
product is the peculiar attribute of com.
mercal freedom. BY cheapening product
il multiplies production. A multiplied
production increases the demand for labor,
and twice blesses 'he laborer, by not only
increasing his wages, but increasing, also,
The purchasing power Of what he does re.
ceive.
The purchasers of the product are the
real employers of labor in any industry
md so il falls out that the welfare of ev.
cry industrial enterprise depends upon the
num Der OF those who are enabled to pur.
chase of its product. But an article cost.
ing five dollars will have hundred pur.
chasers. where, cnsting hundred, 1t would
have but one. Thus, while the product is
dear, the industry is limited to the pstroage
of the few, which, when cbeapened, be.
co mes the common property OF the multi
tn IL. The cheapening process brings that
which bafore was the privilege alone of
tn wealthy within reach OF all the indus
tr Gus poor But when labor begins to
he purchase, it begins not only TO employ
but to provide itself with employment, as
all become employers of labor by becom.
ing purchasers Of It's product. The cheap
ening process thus creates a demand for a
thousand articles where but ten were used
jefore. This gives TO labor hundred EN-.
p!oyers, where then it had but one, and to
the manufacturer hundreds of purchasers
where before he had but tens; and con
verts a community into busy industrial
hive, which, when manufacturing alone
for the few, from necessity languished for
want of employment.
A partial discovery of the laws of cleo.
trlcal forces chained the thunderbolt, an
uihilated time, and brought face to face
the remOtest parts of the inhabitable globe
In like manner the divine genius Of man
will yet overcome and subject all OF the
powers of nature, one after another, TO his
will, and revolutiODiZe methods of produc.
ton, as the electrical spark revolutionized
methods of communication. The day OF
mechanical invention Is yet but dawning
The deepening gray In the east, however
heralds the rising sun, and Is prophetic OF
his grand, majestic sweep to the full noon
tide meridian. The inventive genius OF
man, like the energy of an attractive force
increases as II progresses. Our present
methods of production and distribution
will appear as primitive and clumsy to the
Goth century, as those of the last to this
The reflective mind bows In reverentia
awe at the change In transmission OF Z
message from the stage coach to the light
nings wing The future will witness al
wonderful change In the transmission anC
distribution of merchandise. And In com
parisOn with the present methods OF pro
duction, those of the future will appeal
the very witchery of magic. Under these
perfected methods of production and dis
tribution, the laborer can obtain not onl.
the necessities, but all the luyuries of fam
lily llIe III eAChdupe lOT HIS Icilc'cu AIN
shortened day of toll The tyranny of thu
|" House of Have" over the House o
Want" will thea have ended, as the labor
er will be deprived of no legitimate com
fort that wealth can give.
And as the consumer Is the real employ
er of labor, II is here, In cheapened pro
duc'ion that the conflict between capita
and labor must ultimately find Its s)lutioD
As cheapening production becomes NOR
and more within reach Of the laborer, he
by his increasing consumption, become
more and more the employer OF labor, TN
til when, through cheapened production
the laborer becomes the real employer, tn
two conditions will have merged In one
, and the conflict between capital and labor
I between the employed and the employer
minated-terminated not In the triumph
Of either over the other, but In the merg
{ ing and disappearance of both; for, wher
. each serves and is served by all, the rels
. ton of master and servant can have n
4; place.
Liberty Is the exemption from control
I o hers. Wealth Is the power to make otf
. ers serve. Explain 1t as you may, at oo
: tom il is the irreconciliable conflict bt
) tween liberty and slavery that arrays cap
/ tai and labor In hostile camps, to IN
0 perpetual hurt of both. But cheapene
! production will destroy distinction. At tn
D penny post the laborer and the miilienali